DEMOS & SPECIAL EVENTS

We’ll have more info about our 2026 Demo Area presentations and special events by early July…in the mean time check out last year’s lineup!

Horse & Wagon Driving: Friday, July 25^th 5:00 PMish

Come check out how to drive a team of horses!  JD Vukonich with his team of Suffolk horses will be demonstrating how to work a team pulling a wagon. JD is a long-time cowboy who still feeds cows with a team in the winter months.

Horseshoeing 101: Friday, July 25th 6:30 PMish

Jill Michalak works as a mule packer for Glacier National Park. She attended Oklahoma horseshoeing in 2010 and has been working as a professional farrier ever since. She loves shoeing because it is a great blend of art and science.  Come see how it is done!

Crosscut Competition Practice: Saturday, July 26th 11:00 AM

Getting ready to enter the famous Red Ants Pants Crosscut Competition on Sunday? Now is your chance to get some practice, try out our saws, and find a partner if you still need one.  Did we mention there are great prizes? You could win a weekend pass to the 2026 Festival! Beginners welcome and encouraged!

Right Choice Sheep Shearing: July 26th 1:00 PMish

Coming to us all the way from Texas, you’re not going to want to miss Katie and Darian. They are a married, traveling shearing team focused on spreading compassion and education about livestock shearing. They’ll be demonstrating how to shear a yearling Targhee sheep. Thanks to the Bair Company and Jerry Paugh for providing the sheep. #ShearingIsCaring

Axe Throwing with MSU Big Sky Timbersports:  Saturday, July 26th, 2:30 PMish

Check out the folks from the MSU timbersports club. They’ll be demonstrating traditional forestry skills such as the underhand chop, pee-vee log roll and the crowd favorite, axe throwing.  You may even get to try your hand at hitting the bullseye!

Nailed It! Carpentry 101: Saturday, July 26th 4:00 PMish

One of our Red Ants Pants Foundation Timber Skills workshops is Carpentry 101*. Come join Cole Sommers and Amy Freund, two of our instructors. We know you know how to use a hammer, but have you ever competed in a nail-pounding race?? Beginners welcome!

Historic Window Preservation: Saturday, July 26th 6:00 PMish

Did you know that restored historic windows can be as energy efficient as new windows, and much cheaper? Preserve Montana is putting on a historic window preservation demonstration to show you how to repair the most common maintenance issue with old windows—glazing. Using traditional techniques and materials, the PMT restoration crew will provide a hands-on demo and answer any burning window questions you may have!

Crosscut Competition Preliminaries: Sunday, July 27th 11:00 AM

Presented by the Red Ants Pants Foundation, this festival favorite is back again! Come cheer on these folks as they saw their hearts out. Anyone over 18 years old may participate. Closed-toe shoes and gloves are required (we have extra gloves and chaps will be provided). Women’s, men’s, and co-ed divisions. Sign up at the demo area. Preliminaries are on Sunday at 11:00 AM. Finals are on Sunday at 2:30 PM. 

Trailer Backing, Chainsaws, Dovetails, Women in Ag and More!: Sunday, July 27th 1:00 PMish

Join us to learn about the diverse programs the Red Ants Pants Foundation has to offer. Our Work Skills Courses* include chainsaw, carpentry, dovetail joinery, and trailer backing workshops for women. Our Girls Leadership Programs include a seven-month long program for juniors in high school and a new weekend-long program for sophomore girls in eastern Montana. We also host Women in Agricultural Communities Well-Being Retreats that provide an opportunity for women to restore their energy resources and reclaim a sense of purpose while building community. Stop by to meet our instructors and learn more.

Crosscut Finals: Sunday, July 27th 2:30 PMish

Presented by the Red Ants Pants Foundation, come cheer on these finalists. Winners of the Crosscut Competition will receive a weekend pass to the 2026 Red Ants Pants Music Festival. Buck yeah.

*The Red Ants Pants Foundation puts on Women’s Work Skills courses each year in White Sulphur.
Sign up at the Foundation tent! More info at www.redantspantsfoundation.org.

YOGA

Saturday, July 26th and Sunday, July 27th 9:00 AM

Back by popular demand! Guided by Belgrade yogi Katie Mayfield, yoga will be held both Saturday and Sunday mornings on the north side of the campground, just east of the path to the festival grounds. Bring your own water and mat, or connect directly with the pasture. In addition to yoga, Katie’s business Full Circle Wellness centers around mindfulness, healing and social emotional learning.

12th ANNUAL BEARD AND MOUSTACHE COMPETITION

Saturday, July 26th 11:00 AM

This year’s Red Ants Pants Beard and Moustache Competition will be the biggest competition to date! Owner/operator of Briggs Beard Co., Briggs Weyrauch, will host the event.

Compete in one of five categories: Best Moustache, Best Partial Beard, Best Full Beard, Most Creative Freestyle Beard, and Most Creative Craft Beard (for all those who are facial hair challenged). Get your beard brushed out, your moustache curled, or your own beard-like creation built.

Competitors will be judged on how well their facial hair enhances their overall appearance, style, and personality. In the freestyle categories the judges will be asked to consider originality as well as creativity.

Founded in 2020 in Missoula, Montana, Briggs Beard Co. continually strives to provide high-quality beard and body products while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact from seed to seal with every batch. Briggs’ specializes in natural beard and body oils and balms that are great for every skin and hair type. Winners of each category will be given a variety of prizes courtesy of Briggs Beard Co., check out their vendor booth near the side stage or their products at briggsbeardco.com!

FRIENDS OF YOKED PARISH HYMN SING-ALONG

Sunday, July 27th 11:30 AM

Bring a camp chair to the Middle Gate between the campground and festival grounds and join your festival family in a welcoming hymn sing along to kick your Sunday morning off right. Lyrics will be provided. No experience necessary, just come sing along!

RAFFLES

Thursday, July 24th – Sunday, July 27th 

Guitar Raffle – Martin SC-13E – with its patented Sure Align® neck system, this guitar gives you full access to all frets so you can comfortably reach those high notes. Here’s your chance to take home this guitar, valued at $1,599, for the price of a raffle ticket. The Martin Guitar Raffle will open on Thursday at the street dance and the drawing will be Sunday at 3pm on the Main Stage. Tickets are $10 each or three tickets for $20. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Daily 50/50 Raffles – Once again, we’re bringing this classic raffle back. There will be one winner each day and 50/50 raffle tickets will only be entered to win on the date purchased, so make sure you get your ticket for each day! Half of the sales will go to the winner and the other half will go to the Red Ants Pants Foundation to support their mission-based programming. Tickets are one for $10 or three for $20. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Our Foundation staff and Girls Leadership Program alumnae will be selling both types of raffle tickets throughout the weekend. Grab them at the street dance on Thursday (in front of the Red Ants Pants shop), or the Red Ants Pants Foundation Tent and 2 Basset Brewing Tent on the festival grounds Friday through Sunday. Please consider purchasing raffle tickets to show your support for the programs of the Red Ants Pants Foundation!

GIRLS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – BRACELET MAKING MEET & GREET

Saturday, July 26th 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

We invite preteen and teenage girls to come make a free morse code bracelet with our Girls Leadership Program alumnae. Stop by to learn more about our new Eastern Montana Girls Leadership Program and our Flagship Girls Leadership Program, which is currently accepting applications from girls entering their junior year of high school.

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER MEET-UP

Saturday, July 26th 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

To celebrate the contributions of wildland firefighters in keeping our Montana landscapes safe, healthy, and beautiful, the Red Ants Pants Foundation, American Wildfire Experience, and Mystery Ranch invite all current and former wildland firefighters—volunteer and career—to swing by the Foundation Tent, say “hello” and share a drink with us!

SING-ALONG AND RED ANTS PANTS FOUNDATION DANCE PRESENTATION 

Saturday, July 26th 5:30 PM – 5:45 PM – on the main stage!

Come learn about the programs of the Foundation and see these gals kick up their heels!

MARTIN GUITAR RAFFLE DRAWING

Sunday, July 27th 2:55 PM – on the main stage!

Make sure to purchase your tickets for the Martin SC-13E before we draw the winner onstage! Martin SC-13E – with its patented Sure Align® neck system, this guitar gives you full access to all frets so you can comfortably reach those high notes. Here’s your chance to take home this guitar, valued at $1,599, for the price of a raffle ticket.